Harewood General Hospital facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Harewood General Hospital
Part of military hospitals in the United States
Washington, D.C.
Bird-eye view of Harewood Hospital
Harewood General Hospital
Coordinates	38°55′44″N 77°00′49″W / 38.928881°N 77.013559°W / 38.928881; -77.013559
Site information
Controlled by	Union Army
Site history
Built	1862
In use	1862–1866
Battles/wars	American Civil War

Harewood General Hospital was a special hospital built during the American Civil War. It was located in Washington, D.C.. This hospital helped care for soldiers from the Union Army. It was open from September 4, 1862, until May 5, 1866.

Where Was Harewood Hospital Located?

Corcoran's "Hare-Wood" tract

The hospital was built on land owned by William W. Corcoran. It was named "Harewood" after the area where it stood.

It was east of what is now Georgia Avenue NW. It was also north of Glenwood Cemetery. To its south was the U.S. Military Asylum, which is now the Armed Forces Retirement Home.

Today, other hospitals stand on or near this land:

• MedStar Washington Hospital Center
• the Washington DC VA Medical Center
• Children's National Medical Center

History of Harewood Hospital

Harewood Hospital first opened its doors on September 4, 1862. It continued to operate even after the Civil War ended. The hospital finally closed on May 5, 1866.

The hospital was built on the Corcoran Farm. It had a special "V" pavilion style design. The main hospital had nine wards. Each ward could hold 63 beds, making a total of 945 beds. Many extra tents were also set up. These tents could hold six beds each. With up to 312 tents, the hospital could care for 1,872 patients.

On December 17, 1864, records show that 1,207 beds were in use. The hospital had a total of 2,080 beds at that time. Surgeon R.A. Bontecon was in charge. The hospital complex also included a few wooden barracks and a brick farmhouse.

Famous Visitors to Harewood Hospital

Several important people visited Harewood Hospital. They came to see and help the sick and injured soldiers. These visitors included President Abraham Lincoln and his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln. The famous American poet Walt Whitman also spent time there.

President Lincoln and his family lived at the Soldiers' Home. This home was close to the hospital. Living there helped President Lincoln see the realities of the Civil War. He saw wounded soldiers going to Harewood Hospital. He also saw more and more military burials.

Walt Whitman came to Washington, D.C., looking for his brother. He had heard his brother was wounded in battle. Luckily, his brother only had a minor injury. Whitman soon realized he could help other soldiers who were much worse off. He started volunteering in city hospitals. He helped soldiers who could not read or write. He also helped those too sick or hurt to write letters themselves.

One of these letters was found in 2016. It was written by Whitman on January 21, 1866. The letter was for the wife and six children of Private Robert N. Jabo. Private Jabo was a soldier from the 8th New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry. He died from tuberculosis in December 1866. This letter is one of only three known letters written by Whitman for soldiers. It was found in the National Archives.

Images for kids

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  General view of Harewood Hospital

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  Harewood Hospital

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  Band before officers' quarters at Harewood Hospital

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  Mess hall heated by elaborate stoves

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  Surgeons and hospital stewards at Harewood Hospital

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  Interiors, 1864